"Amazing journeys begin with a simple decision to go"

Jab Me – To Vaccinate or to not vaccinate, is it really a question?!

Today I visited my local health clinic and the nurse jabbed me with a tetanus booster, Hepatitis A and a Typhoid vaccination. I also had a yellow fever injection last month, and still need to be jabbed for Hepatitis B, rabies, and purchase malaria tablets, all in the next month before I leave. Luckily for me, I don’t mind needles, even though my arm now hurts from today’s jabs!

I’d forgotten about travel vaccinations. Maybe because I’ve never travelled to countries where they’re needed. But with South America and South East Asia on the map, suddenly I had to account for these additional, but essential expenses.

It’s easy to consider not taking certain injections, especially when the pounds start adding up. Luckily some of the injections I’ve had are compliments of the NHS. But most need to be paid for. I can’t put a price on health and I’d rather travel with peace of mind. So here’s the in’s and out’s of common travel vaccinations;

8. Malaria – spread by Mosquitos in tropical areas. It can take up to 8 days after being bitten for symptoms to show. Malaria tablets and avoiding bites via mosquito nets and repellant are your only options.